Der Mensch als Abbild Gottes – seine Abgründigkeit und Rätselhaftigkeit

Abstract

How can we construct the concept of an apophatical anthropology? This question is addressed in dialogue with modern theologians such as Karl Barth, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Dumitru Staniloae, und Kurt Stalder, but also with Patristic sources like Augustine, Diadochus of Photike, Gregor von Nyssa. The author proposes an outline of a theological anthropology that is apophatic, because it has an iconic foundation: the creation of the human being in the likeness and image of God. It also discusses the mystery of the human heart, realizing the paradoxical meeting between two fundamental dimensions of the human – deepness and height. The iconic representation of Christ’s transfiguration provides further elements that inspire an apophatic anthropology, because of the blinding mystery of Christ’s light, source of the transfiguration of any human being.